RB Pierre Strong Jr. (8.29.23)

RB Pierre Strong Jr.

8-29-23

 

Just take us through what the last couple of days have been like for you and how you found out you were coming here, all that stuff?

“It’s been good. It’s been a whirlwind. But it’s the business that I’m in. Can’t do nothing but love it. So, I’ve just been catching up with everything, getting in the rhythm of things, the Browns way.”

 

Did you have any sense that you might get traded or might not be in New England to start the year? Or was it kind of a surprise?

“It was kind of a surprise. I came to work every day. But like I said, it was like a business thing. I called to the front office and rest is history. I’m here now.”

 

I saw Nick Chubb giving you some pointers over there during the drills. How nice is it to be in a backfield with arguably the best running back in football? 

“It’s great. He knows everything. He wouldn’t be top five if he wouldn’t every year. So I listen to everything he’s saying to take it all in. He helped me perfect my game and just telling me little key pointers that he uses and he do. So helped my game out as well.”

 

This is an offensive line that is really good. The scheme is really good. This is a little bit like the San Francisco scheme. Is there a little bit of excitement to kind of get behind this line and run behind it?

“I’m ready, man. You know, like you said, it’s one of the best lines in the league. Just every day, come to work, run behind them, can’t do nothing but look good.”

 

Is Kevin (Stefanski) already dialing up some trick plays for you? I saw you throw some touchdown passes in college. 

“No, I don’t know about all that. I’m just getting my feet wet out here, you know, today. (Just) catching the rhythm of things and how things belong, how things operate here.”

 

Could you be a returner if they wanted you to do that? 

“Yeah, I’ll be anything. I’m a football player at the end of the day, so anything they need me to do, I’m going to do it.”

 

Is there a part of your game that you’re maybe excited to show off to people here in Cleveland? 

“I’m versatile. My speed, my hands at the backfield block and just being an all-around back. Like I said, speed. Just showing them – break away and get to the edges and just do anything they need me to do with the ball in my hands.”

 

Think about playing with Deshaun (Watson). What did you kind of know? I mean, is he a guy you followed, obviously, and what did you think about playing with him?

“It’s crazy. You dream, like you said, dream as a kid – but when I got here, he’s my teammate, so I don’t look at it like that anymore. I just go out there and play, perform and just go as he leads.”

 

You’ve caught the ball quite a bit in college, too. How much are you looking forward to maybe getting to showcase that a little bit? 

“Like I said, whatever they need me to do, I’m going to do it. So, whatever they need me to catch out of the back of the field, run, block, anything they need me to do, that’s my role. That’s what I’m going to do. So, I am not just looking at one thing, looking at anything where coaches need me.”

 

What was your family’s reaction when they found out you were getting traded to Cleveland?

” We pray about it. They’re going to come up and help me move. There’s really nothing we can really do about it, but I’m glad to be here. I’m happy to be here. So, at the end of the day, my parents rocking with me. They’re Browns fans now.”

 

Coming from an organization with arguably the greatest coach of all time (Bill Belichick), how has he helped you progress in your career so far? 

“Just helped me be a pro. Coming from a small school to the NFL, it’s a big jump for small school kids. So just like I said, had me practicing like a pro, out in public like a pro. He holds you accountable for everything. I thank him for that.”

 

I know it’s still early on, but do you see any similarities with Stefanski and Bill Belichick? 

“Yeah, coach here, he always just tells us he cares about us, and Belichick, he did the same thing. So, when a coach cares about you can really feel that they care about you. You’ll give him your all.”

 

Do you remember the Browns showing interest in you out of the Draft? They say they did.

“Yeah, I had a couple of interviews with them. I’m here now, so I’m glad to be here.”

 

Reading some of what Coach Belichick was saying about you in the past, like he really praised you for taking a jump in year two, I guess. How do you feel like you made a jump from your rookie year to year two? 

“Just knowing how to be a pro at everything I do. For life outside of football, out in public, on the field and how to watch film. Just growing up as a young player. So, like you said, like a jump. Like I said, just doing everything the right way and just following everybody’s lead that was there before me.”

 

This is a tough time of year, guys getting cut, but also moving around and a lot of adjustments for you. How do you maybe go into this time of the year mentally knowing that you ended up here in Cleveland? You moved a little bit. How do you approach that? 

“I approach it – keep a smile on my face. Getting my playbook down. I look at moving forward, always. So I never dwell on the past. I always move forward. So now I’m here. I’m ready to work, ready to see what the season has ahead. So, like I said, look into the future.”

 

I know you just got here, but every running back who comes through here loves playing for Stump Mitchell. What are your first impressions of him? 

“He’s real. He’s an OG of the game. He’s an older guy, so he’s been around the game for quite a long time. So, I respect (him). Like I said, just follow his lead, because they’ve been around the game way (longer), probably before I was born. I’m just always like, whatever you say, I 100% agree with it, because, like I said, he’d been around the game for how many years.”

 

Nick Chubb is a big Batman fan, I guess. Are you a big Batman fan, or are you a fan of any other superheroes? 

“No, I really don’t have a superhero.”

 

Any other off-the-field interests for you that you want Cleveland fans to know about or want to share? 

“I just recently got a dog.”

 

What kind of dog? 

“I got an American bulldog.”

 

His or her name? 

“Her name D’Usse”

 

Can you spell that? 

“It’s D-U-S-S-E, with the accent. Yeah, like the drink. My mom named her.”

 

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